Storage case

ABSTRACT

A disc storage case for containing one or more media storage discs. The case having an upper closure member and a lower closure member coupled by a hinge to be pivotally movable between a closed condition, to define therebetween an internal storage space within which the discs can be retained, and an open condition, to expose the internal storage space to allow access to the discs. The case includes at least one disc retaining member disposed from either the lower closure member or upper closure member and provided to be within the internal storage space to restrict lateral movement of the one or more discs. There is also a latch to operate across a junction of the upper and lower closure members to hold, when in a latching condition, the upper and lower closure members together when in the closed condition. A tamper evident locking device is present to maintain the latch in the latching condition, the tamper evident locking device including a frangible zone to allow severing of said tamper evident locking device to allow release of the latch from the latching condition.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a storage case for optical discs like digital data storage means such as those known in the art as DVD's and CD's, and more particularly, a storage case having a security feature to indicate tampering with the case.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It is known in the art to store such CD's and DVD's in individual “jewel” cases. There is also known in the art storage systems for multiple data discs either in the form of a multi-leaf book form with pockets for each disk or a series of holders within a case.

However, there is not known in the prior art a storage means for one or more discs which has also a security function which indicates either that the case has been tampered with and/or prevents the case being secured more than once.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a storage case for storing a plurality of digital media storage discs which has a security or tamper evident function which addresses the shortcomings of the prior art and/or which at least will provide the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a disc storage case is disclosed. The disc storage case includes an upper closure member and a lower closure member hingeably coupled to each other to be pivotally movable between a closed condition, defining therebetween an internal storage space within which the one or more discs can be retained, and an open condition exposing the internal storage space to allow access to said media storage discs; at least one disc retaining member disposed from at least one of said lower closure member and upper closure member, the disc retaining member configured to be within said internal storage space to restrict lateral movement of the one or more discs; a latch to operate across a junction of said upper and lower closure members to hold, when in a latching condition, said upper and lower closure members together when in the closed condition; and

a tamper evident locking device to maintain said latch in said latching condition, said tamper evident locking device including a frangible zone to allow removal of at least part of said tamper evident locking device to allow release of said latch from the latching condition.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, when said discs are retained on said at least one disc retaining member, a holding member is engaged with said at least one retaining member to bear on the upper most disc of the one or more discs to substantially prevent uplifting of said discs from said one of said lower and upper closure member.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, said at least one disc retaining member has at least one row of teeth extending in a direction parallel to the stack direction, said teeth provided for engagement with a teeth engaging profile of said holding member for selectively locating said holding member in a desired location on said retaining member.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, said teeth engaging profile of said holding member are deformable to enable removal of said teeth engaging profile from the teeth of said at least one retaining member.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, said at least one disc retaining member is of a size and location to engage and retain said discs through their central aperture.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, said at least one disc retaining member is of a size and location to engage and retain said media storage discs through their central aperture, and wherein said holding member is a substantially disc shaped and includes a central aperture configured to engage with said centrally located retaining member.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, wherein said at least one disc retaining member includes a plurality of retaining members disposed within said internal space to lie on the periphery of said discs.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, said latch depends from said upper closure member and engages with said lower closure member.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, said latch hingedly depends from said upper closure member and engages with said lower closure member.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, said tamper evident locking device passes at least in part though said latch and into either or both of said upper and lower closure members.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, said tamper evident locking device has a shaft portion, wherein at one end of the shaft portion there is provided a head portion to locate to said latch, and at another end there is provided a catch portion configured to engage with one of said upper and lower closure members.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, said shaft portion has a frangible zone intermediate of said head portion and said catch portion.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, said head portion is located substantially against said latch and said locking shaft portion passes through an aperture of said latch and push fit engages, by said catch portion, with a complimentary catch receiving region of one of said upper and lower closure members.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, said catch portion remains engaged at said catch receiving region of one of said upper or lower closure members after fracturing of said frangible region and said head portion falls away to thereby indicate a tampering of the closed disc storage case.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, said frangible zone may be fractured by a rotation of said head portion relative to said catch portion whilst said catch portion is rotationally restrained by said catch receiving region.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, said centrally located retaining member has two rows of teeth thereon for engaging said holding member.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a storage case for containing one or more media storage discs is disclosed. The storage case includes an internal space for receiving the one or more media storage discs and having a closed position, wherein in the closed position the media storage discs are retained within the storage case, the storage case further including a latch coupled to the storage case, the latch having a latched position, wherein in the latched position the latch maintains the storage case in the closed position, the latch further defining an aperture for receiving a removable tamper-evident locking device, wherein insertion of the tamper-evident locking device into the aperture secures the latch in the latched position, and wherein removal of the tamper-evident locking device permits transition of the latch to the unlatched position, and upon insertion the tamper-evident locking device, longitudinal and rotational movement of the tamper evident locking device is restricted.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the tamper-evident locking device includes a head portion configured for rotational engagement;

a frangible zone coupled to the head portion; and a catch portion coupled to the frangible zone, wherein removal of the tamper-evident locking device results in breaking of the frangible zone and the catch portion is retained by at least one of the latch and the storage case.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a storage case for containing one or more media storage discs is disclosed. The storage case includes an internal space for receiving the one or more media storage discs and having a closed position, wherein in the closed position the media storage discs are retained within the storage case, the storage case further including at least one retaining device disposed within the storage case, coupled to one or more locations within the storage case, the retention means configured for engagement with an aperture of the one or more media storage discs, the retention means reducing lateral movement of the one or more media storage discs within the storage case; and at least one securing device configured for engagement with the at least one retaining device, wherein engagement of the at least one securing means with the at least one retaining device prevents removal of the one or more media storage discs from the at least one retaining device, and wherein the securing means is deformed when removed from engagement with the at least one retaining device.

To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings whereby,

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of the storage case in an open form,

FIG. 2 shows a similar view to that of FIG. 1 and the application of a disc,

FIG. 3 shows a similar view to that of FIGS. 1 and 2 whereby a number of discs have been located at one part of the open storage case by a retaining member, and a holding member associated therewith,

FIG. 4 shows the case in isometric view having been closed but a latch not having been locked on the case,

FIG. 5 shows a similar view to that of FIG. 4 and where the latch is in a locked position,

FIG. 6 a shows the application of a tamper evident locking device to lock the latch in place,

FIG. 6 b shows a close-up detail of the tamper evident locking device and the latch,

FIG. 7 a shows a similar view to that of FIG. 6 a but from underside isometric view,

FIG. 7 b shows a detail of FIG. 7 a,

FIG. 8 shows an isometric view of the closed case with latch closed and the tamper evident locking device in a locked position on the latch,

FIG. 9 shows a similar view to that of FIG. 8 whereby the tamper evident locking device is rotated to break its locking of the latch,

FIG. 10 a shows the tamper evident locking device broken free,

FIG. 10 b is a close up view of FIG. 10 a,

FIG. 11 shows a similar view to that of FIG. 3 whereby the case contains a stack of discs however in this case the case has had the tamper evident locking device removed and the latch opened to reveal the contents of the case, the locking portion of the tamper evident locking device which has broken from the tamper evident locking device is retained within the complimentary receiving aperture of the case,

FIG. 12 shows a holding member which can pass over the retaining member to grab onto the retaining member and retain the discs securely thereon to prevent their movement and rattling,

FIG. 13 is a side view showing the retaining member in a close-up form having serrations thereon to engage the holding member and retain it a desired location thereon,

FIG. 14 a shows an embodiment of the present invention in an underside view whereby the storage case has in addition to an optional central retaining member,

FIG. 14 b shows a side sectional view along line KK of FIG. 14 a, including outer peripheral retaining members to retain the disc,

FIG. 15 shows a top-down view of the second embodiment case, and

FIG. 16 shows a number of cross-section views along lines EE through II of FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The disc storage case 1 consists an upper closure member which resembles an upper clam shell half 3 and a lower closure member which resembles a lower clam shell half 5, linked or coupled together by a hinge 7. In the embodiment shown the hinge 7 is a live hinge providing two parallel pivot axes at two places, one on each of the vertices of the upper and lower clam shell halves respectively. However the hinge may also be just a single hinge point, and/or may be a clipped or pinned hinge common in that art.

The clam shell halves 3 and 5 articulate about the hinge 7 to form an enclosed space when the clam shells are in a closed condition as shown in FIG. 4. In the embodiment shown the clam shell halves 3 and 5 form an entirely closed internal space, however provided they sufficiently can contain the discs and prevent their damage and/or removal, various forms defining a skeletal enclosure are also within the scope of the invention.

A latch 9 is provided to depend from either the upper or lower clam shell half 3 and 5. As shown in FIG. 3, the latch 9 is pivotally mounted from the upper clam shell half 3. The pivoting is via two stubs 10 which the latch 9 engages to allow it to pivot from the closed position engaged on the lower clam shell half 5, to an open position whereby the storage case is free to open.

The latch 9 when closed secures to the lower clam shell half 5 via two catches 12 on the inner side of the latch 9. These catches 12 engage catch receiving apertures or other surface relief 14 on the front side face of the lower clam shell half 5. However, the catches 12 may be on the clam shell half to be engaged and the apertures 14 may be on the latch, or any other suitable latch closure mechanism may be used.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4 the catches 12 and apertures 14 co-operate when the latch 9 is closed against the lower clam shell half 5 to retain the two clam shell halves together. In other embodiments the catches 12 and apertures 14 may only hold the latch 9 closed and a further lip or other engagement means engages the clam shell half to keep the two halves together. In such an embodiment the catches 12 may engage apertures 14 on the clam shell half from which the latch 9 depends and the other engagement means will engage the other clam shell halves to ensure the storage case is closed.

In an open condition, as shown in FIG. 2, the disc or discs 11 can be located in the internal and exposed space. The central aperture of the disc(s) is located upon a retaining member 17 which depends from the inside of the lower clam shell half 5. The retaining member 17 may extend far enough to rest against the inner surface 4 of the upper clam shell half when the two halves are closed, thus preventing the discs from sliding off the retaining member 17.

Once the disc(s) 11 are loaded on the retaining member 17 a holding member 15 having an aperture 16 therein for receiving the retaining member may be located on the retaining member and pushed down against the disc(s), further preventing them from moving.

Referring to FIG. 3, the retaining member 17 may have at least one, and preferably two rows of diametrically opposed teeth 19. Complimentary engaging teeth or surface relief 20 may also be provided on the periphery of the aperture 16 of the holding member 15. The holding member 15 has zones of weakening 22 (shown in FIG. 12) at or near the complimentary engaging teeth 20, such that to apply the holding member 15 to the retaining member 17 the teeth 20 ratchet down the row of teeth 19, but strongly engage the teeth 19 such that to remove the holding member 15 from the retaining member 17 the teeth 20 must be broken or at least bent. This provides a physical and visual indication of removal of the holding member 15 and possible tampering with the discs 11. The holding member 15 may have upward angled edges to enable easy grasping and removal by a user.

Referring to FIG. 5, once the discs are loaded into the storage case and retained therein by the retaining member 17 and the holding member 15 the clam shell halves are closed and the latch 9 is brought to engage the lower clam shell half 5, closing the storage case 1.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a tamper evident locking device 13 can then be installed. The tamper evident locking device 13 includes a head portion 27, which may be larger than the locking shaft portion 29, which depends therefrom. The head portion 27 serves the function of retaining the tamper evident locking device 13 against the latch 9 and also serves to provide a location 28 for later engagement with a tool or object 35 when the locking device 13 is to be removed. The tamper evident locking device 13 maintains the latch 9 against either or both of the adjacent clam shell halves, in a latching condition.

The locking shaft portion 29 has along its length a frangible zone 33 and a catch portion 31 at its distal end. The locking shaft portion 29 is configured to engage a complimentary receiving aperture 32 in the clam shell half that the tamper evident locking device 13 is to engage. The frangible zone 33 is of sufficient weakness that the locking shaft portion 29, once engaged with the complimentary receiving aperture 32, cannot be disengaged, until the frangible zone 33 is fractured and the catch portion 31, with part of the locking shaft portion 29, is disengaged from the remainder of the locking device 13 and is retained in the aperture 32 to indicate tampering.

The catch portion 31, or a part of the locking shaft portion 29 that is retained in the receiving aperture 32, may be colour coded to visually indicate that there has been a tampering, such as the catch portion 31 being evident through a window 26 when the storage case 1 is opened.

The tamper evident locking device 13 once engaged through the latch 9 into the clam shell half indicates a closed and sealed disc storage case. The head portion 27, to prevent inadvertent fracturing of the frangible portion 33, may be at least partially recessed into the latch 9.

In one embodiment, in order to break the seal provided by the tamper evident locking device 13, it should be intentionally broken. This can be done with the engagement of the location 28 with a tool or object 35 (e.g. a coin, screw driver or other blade shaped device) and the head portion 27 rotated sufficiently to fracture the frangible portion 33. The catch portion 31 may, once inserted into the aperture 32, be prevented from rotating whilst other parts of the locking device can rotate. For example, the catch portion 31 may include one or more notches configured to engage one or more slots in the aperture 32, impairing rotation of the catch portion 31. In another embodiment, the head portion 27 may be threadingly engaged to the latch 9 and a rotation of the head portion 27 may cause a twist fracturing of the catch portion 31.

In yet another embodiment, the tamper evident locking device 13 can be broken by levering the device 13 itself with application of force directly to the head portion 27. This can be achieved by acting directly on the head portion 27 or by levering the latch 9 open sufficiently to fracture the zone 33.

The head portion 27 and part of the locking shaft portion then are free to be removed, allowing opening of the case by uncatching of the latch 9 and opening the clam shell halves, relative to each other, about the hinge 7.

Referring to FIG. 11, the discs may still not be removed from the retaining member 17 as the holding member 15 is still engaged therewith. Thus, the holding member 15 must be broken in order to remove it from the retaining member 17 to allow the discs 11 to be accessed.

The case can be reclosed at will by the user, but the tamper evident locking device 13 has been fractured. The complimentary receiving aperture 32 may permanently retain the fractured part of the tamper evident locking device 13 to prevent re-sealing by introduction of a new tamper evident locking device. Alternatively, the complimentary receiving aperture 32 can release the fractured part of the tamper evident locking device 13, to allow a resealing of the storage case 1 for multiple security uses.

Another embodiment of disc retaining members is shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, wherein a plurality of peripheral retaining members are arrayed to define a retention zone of a diameter generally equal to that of the discs to be stored. An array of three or more such peripheral retaining members 18, depending from the inner surface 6 of the lower clam shell half 5, will retain the discs 11. A downward holding member 24 of a disc like shape can engage similar teeth 20 on the peripheral retaining members 18 in a similar way to that of the holding member 15 and retaining member 17. While four peripheral retaining members are shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, any number may be used, for example, one or two retaining members. The retaining members may also be integrally incorporated into the inner walls of the case.

In one embodiment, the disc storage case is constructed from plastic or polymer materials. The disc storage case, except for the latch and the locking device, may, for example, be a single, integrally molded form. However, any other suitable materials and manufacturing techniques may be used. Any combination of materials may also be used.

The previous description of embodiments of the present invention is provided to enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to make or use the present invention. Various changes and modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope the invention. For example, while certain shapes and characteristics of the latching and locking mechanisms have been described, other shapes and designs may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. Also, while the disc storage case is described having a generally clam-shell shape, any other suitable shapes and designs may be used. Also, the various embodiments described may be considered alone or in any desired combination. Accordingly, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. 

1. A disc storage case for containing one or more media storage discs, the disc storage case comprising; an upper closure member and a lower closure member hingeably coupled to each other to be pivotally movable between a closed condition, defining therebetween an internal storage space within which the one or more discs can be retained, and an open condition exposing the internal storage space to allow access to said media storage discs; at least one disc retaining member disposed from at least one of said lower closure member and upper closure member, the disc retaining member configured to be within said internal storage space to restrict lateral movement of the one or more discs; a latch to operate across a junction of said upper and lower closure members to hold, when in a latching condition, said upper and lower closure members together when in the closed condition; and a tamper evident locking device to maintain said latch in said latching condition, said tamper evident locking device including a frangible zone to allow removal of at least part of said tamper evident locking device to allow release of said latch from the latching condition.
 2. A disc storage case as claimed in claim 1 wherein, when said discs are retained on said at least one disc retaining member, a holding member is engaged with said at least one retaining member to bear on the upper most disc of the one or more discs to substantially prevent uplifting of said discs from said one of said lower and upper closure member.
 3. A disc storage case as claimed in claim 2 wherein said at least one disc retaining member has at least one row of teeth extending in a direction parallel to the stack direction, said teeth provided for engagement with a teeth engaging profile of said holding member for selectively locating said holding member in a desired location on said retaining member.
 4. A disc storage case as claimed in claim 3 wherein said teeth engaging profile of said holding member are deformable to enable removal of said teeth engaging profile from the teeth of said at least one retaining member.
 5. A disc storage case as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one disc retaining member is of a size and location to engage and retain said discs through their central aperture.
 6. A disc storage case as claimed in claim 2 wherein said at least one disc retaining member is of a size and location to engage and retain said media storage discs through their central aperture, and wherein said holding member is a substantially disc shaped and includes a central aperture configured to engage with said centrally located retaining member.
 7. A disc storage case as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one disc retaining member includes a plurality of retaining members disposed within said internal space to lie on the periphery of said discs.
 8. A disc storage case as claimed in claim 1 wherein said latch depends from said upper closure member and engages with said lower closure member.
 9. A disc storage case as claimed in claim 1 wherein said latch hingedly depends from said upper closure member and engages with said lower closure member.
 10. A disc storage case as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tamper evident locking device passes at least in part though said latch and into either or both of said upper and lower closure members.
 11. A disc storage case as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tamper evident locking device has a shaft portion, wherein at one end of the shaft portion there is provided a head portion to locate to said latch, and at another end there is provided a catch portion configured to engage with one of said upper and lower closure members.
 12. A disc storage case as claimed in claim 11 wherein said shaft portion has a frangible zone intermediate of said head portion and said catch portion.
 13. A disc storage case as claimed in claim 11 wherein said head portion is located substantially against said latch and said locking shaft portion passes through an aperture of said latch and push fit engages, by said catch portion, with a complimentary catch receiving region of one of said upper and lower closure members.
 14. A disc storage case as claimed in claim 13 wherein said catch portion remains engaged at said catch receiving region of one of said upper or lower closure members after fracturing of said frangible region and said head portion falls away to thereby indicate a tampering of the closed disc storage case.
 15. A disc storage case as claimed in claim 13 wherein said frangible zone may be fractured by a rotation of said head portion relative to said catch portion whilst said catch portion is rotationally restrained by said catch receiving region.
 16. A disc storage case as claimed in claim 5 wherein said centrally located retaining member has two rows of teeth thereon for engaging said holding member.
 17. A storage case for containing one or more media storage discs, the storage case including an internal space for receiving the one or more media storage discs and having a closed position, wherein in the closed position the media storage discs are retained within the storage case, the storage case comprising: a latch coupled to the storage case, the latch having a latched position, wherein in the latched position the latch maintains the storage case in the closed position, the latch further defining an aperture for receiving a removable tamper-evident locking device, wherein insertion of the tamper-evident locking device into the aperture secures the latch in the latched position, and wherein removal of the tamper-evident locking device permits transition of the latch to the unlatched position, and upon insertion the tamper-evident locking device, longitudinal and rotational movement of the tamper evident locking device is restricted.
 18. A storage case as claimed in claim 17 wherein the tamper-evident locking device includes: a head portion configured for rotational engagement; a frangible zone coupled to the head portion; and a catch portion coupled to the frangible zone, wherein removal of the tamper-evident locking device results in breaking of the frangible zone and the catch portion is retained by at least one of the latch and the storage case.
 19. A storage case for containing one or more media storage discs, the storage case including an internal space for receiving the one or more media storage discs and having a closed position, wherein in the closed position the media storage discs are retained within the storage case, the storage case comprising: at least one retaining device disposed within the storage case, coupled to one or more locations within the storage case, the retention means configured for engagement with an aperture of the one or more media storage discs, the retention means reducing lateral movement of the one or more media storage discs within the storage case; and at least one securing device configured for engagement with the at least one retaining device, wherein engagement of the at least one securing means with the at least one retaining device prevents removal of the one or more media storage discs from the at least one retaining device, and wherein the securing means is deformed when removed from engagement with the at least one retaining device.
 20. A storage case for containing one or more media storage discs, the storage case including an internal space for receiving the one or more media storage discs and having a closed position, wherein in the closed position the media storage discs are retained within the storage case, the storage case comprising: retention means disposed within the storage case, the retention means configured for engagement with an aperture of the one or more media storage discs, the retention means reducing lateral movement of the one or more media storage discs within the storage case; securing means configured for engagement with the retention means, wherein the securing means prevents removal of the one or more media storage discs from the retention means, and wherein the securing means is deformed when removed from engagement with the retention means; latching means, having a latched position, for maintaining the storage case in the closed position; and locking means configured for engagement with at least one of the latch and the storage case, the locking means further configured for maintaining the latching means in the latched position, wherein removal of the locking means provides visual evidence of removal of the locking means. 